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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Last Updated: Jul 12, 2022 by Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · 6 Comments

    How To Make A Crumb Topping

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    Jump to Recipe
    How to make streusel crumb topping pin with text header.

    If you'd like to learn how to make a crumb topping for muffins, bread, cakes, and other desserts, check out my easy recipe! A crumbly brown sugar and cinnamon topping adds a wonderful textural element to baked goods, so knowing how to make a crumb topping comes in handy if you love to whip up desserts and other sweet treats!

    Homemade Crumb Topping

    Some of my favorite desserts include a cinnamon crumb topping! It's so versatile it can be used on muffins, bread, cakes, crisps, and so much more!

    Knowing how to make crumb topping from scratch has come in handy more than once in all my baking endeavors. So I thought I'd share this incredibly easy recipe for homemade crumb topping so that anyone can make tasty desserts whenever they please!

    How to make a streusel crumb topping shown in clear glass bowl with fork after combining.
    A crumbly brown sugar and cinnamon topping for all your favorite treats!
    Jump to:
    • Homemade Crumb Topping
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 How To Make A Crumb Topping
    • 💭 Tips & Notes
    • Is It Better To Use Cold Butter For Crumb Toppings?
    • 🍰 Recipes With Crumb Topping!
    • 📖 Recipe Card
    • 💬 Reviews

    🥘 Ingredients

    This recipe only requires 4 ingredients! They might already be sitting in your pantry!

    Crumb topping ingredients for streusel and crumbles.
    • All-Purpose Flour - ¾ cup, spoon and leveled.
    • Brown sugar - ⅓ cup, packed.
    • Ground Cinnamon - ½ teaspoon.
    • Butter - 4 tablespoons melted butter. If using unsalted butter, you may want to add a pinch of salt in your crumble.

    *Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*

    🔪 How To Make A Crumb Topping

    A homemade crumble topping can be made in just a few easy steps. Grab your measuring cups, a mixing bowl, and a fork (or pastry cutter if you opt for cold butter) - that's it!

    Process photo 1 combine dry ingredients in a small to medium size mixing bowl.
    1
    Process photo 2 make sure that the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined.
    2
    Process photo 3 add melted butter (or cut in cold butter if desired).
    3
    Process photo 4 mix until a crumble forms and the dry mixture is fully incorporated with butter.
    4
    1. Combine. In a small bowl, combine ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, and ½ a teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Use a fork or whisk to thoroughly mix the ingredients before adding butter. *I suggest a fork, as it is the easiest to use to get your perfect crumble after the melted butter is added.
    2. Add. Pour 4 tablespoons of melted butter in with the combined dry ingredients and mix well.
    3. Make the crumble. You should see that the mixture is forming crumbs and will hold together if you pinch it. Note that big, fluffy crumbs are more desirable than a small crumb when using melted butter.
    4. Enjoy. Use when baking to top breads, cakes, or other desserts.

    Use your homemade streusel crumble topping on whatever you please! I love using it to top off some baked cinnamon apples or soft apple banana bread. Enjoy!

    💭 Tips & Notes

    • A crumb topping may also be referred to as a streusel topping. 
    • When using with baked goods, add the crumb topping before baking. *Recipes with long baking times (like a Dutch apple pie) can be topped with the crumb mixture for the last 15-20 minutes of baking time.
    • Granulated sugar can replace brown sugar in a pinch, but it will make a crumb topping that is paler, drier, and crunchier because it has less moisture than brown sugar. It is still tasty nonetheless.
    • This crumb topping can be made in advance. Simply place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

    Is It Better To Use Cold Butter For Crumb Toppings?

    Once upon a time...my Grandma and her mom, etc. didn't have a microwave when baking. They used cold butter and a pastry cutter to blend in the butter to make the crumbs. Yes, I suppose they could've melted the butter stovetop - but that would be an extra step. 🙂

    You can see that method in my brown sugar streusel recipe.

    Turns out, that's arguably still the best method! You can melt your butter for a quick and easy crumb topping (as shared here), but you may not have a great crumb consistency when your baked dish is done.

    If using melted butter, opt for a high fat percentage butter like Kerrygold and other European butters (or Ghee). This way the water content of your melted butter is less likely to react with the crumb topping ingredients.

    I've never had a problem with this, so it will end up being a choice to make based on your personal preferences.

    Combined crumb topping in glass bowl with fork.

    🍰 Recipes With Crumb Topping!

    • Apple Banana Muffins
    • Banana Bread with Brown Sugar Streusel
    • Bisquick Coffee Cake
    • Maraschino Cherry Coffee Cake
    • Pumpkin Streusel Bread

    Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Subscribe to the newsletter today (no spam, I promise)! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📖 Recipe Card

    How to make a streusel crumb topping shown in clear glass bowl with fork after combining.
    Print Recipe Leave A Comment
    Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
    5 from 33 reviews

    How To Make A Crumb Topping

    If you'd like to learn how to make a crumb topping for muffins, bread, cakes, and other desserts, check out my easy recipe! A crumbly brown sugar and cinnamon topping adds a wonderful textural element to baked goods, so knowing how to make a crumb topping comes in handy if you love to whip up desserts and other sweet treats!
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 102kcal
    Prep 5 minutes minutes
    Cooking 0 minutes minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes minutes
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

    Ingredients
     

    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour (spoon and leveled)
    • ⅓ cup brown sugar (packed)
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 4 tablespoon butter (melted)
    Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Mix until the ingredients are well distributed before adding melted or cold butter.
      ⅓ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • Pour the melted butter in with the combined dry ingredients.
      4 tablespoon butter
    • Mix the topping until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated. You should see that the mixture is forming crumbs and will hold together if you pinch it.
    • Use when baking to top breads, cakes, or other desserts.

    Equipment You May Need

    Measuring Cups
    Mixing Bowl
    Silicone Spatula Set

    Notes

    Nutritional values are all approximate and depend on the amount you use in any given recipe. 
    • A crumb topping may also be referred to as a streusel topping. 
    • When using with baked goods, add the crumb topping before baking. *Recipes with long baking times (like a Dutch apple pie) can be topped with the crumb mixture for the last 15-20 minutes of baking time.
    • Granulated sugar can replace brown sugar in a pinch, but it will make a crumb topping that is paler, drier, and crunchier because it has less moisture than brown sugar. It is still tasty nonetheless.
    • This crumb topping can be made in advance. Simply place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 102kcal (5%) | Carbohydrates: 14g (5%) | Protein: 1g (2%) | Fat: 5g (8%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg (4%) | Sodium: 38mg (2%) | Potassium: 22mg (1%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 7g (8%) | Vitamin A: 140IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 10mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    Crumb Topping, crumble desserts, streusel topping
    Course Cooking Tips, Dessert
    Cuisine American

    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/

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    Comments

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    1. Maria Navarro says

      November 18, 2023 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      Deliciosa Gracias

      Reply
    2. Deb Hosler says

      September 18, 2023 at 12:49 pm

      Not sure what I did but just got a paste. Had to add much more flour and brown sugar.

      Reply
      • Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says

        September 18, 2023 at 1:15 pm

        If it's pasty, use your fork to break the crumb apart. The butter will thoroughly coat the dry ingredients (just be sure to measure the butter correctly - I'm guilty of eyeballing this!).

        Reply
    3. Helen Wright says

      July 21, 2023 at 7:57 am

      5 stars
      Was delicious and perfect for my homemade Dutch oven cinnamon raisin bread! Thank you!!

      Reply
    4. Deba says

      July 17, 2023 at 6:08 pm

      5 stars
      So easy, so delicious.
      This will replace, and now be my go to crumble
      On muffins, breads, strudel, and whatever else comes up.
      Thanxs

      Reply
    5. Lauren says

      May 30, 2023 at 6:12 pm

      I made the crumble but substituted butter with coconut oil, and gluten free bob mills flour blend- it turned out amazing. I added some frozen fruit to an oven safe dish and drizzled honey over, and added the crumble on top. Baked at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. LOVED THIS RECIPE

      Reply

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    Author bio photo with cake.

    Hi there, I'm Angela! I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

    Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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